AG rejects Isham's apology, to proceed with contempt bid

Attorney-General (AG) Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh has declined Isham Jalil’s offer of an unreserved apology to resolve a contempt of court case against the ex-Umno supreme council member.

As a result, the criminal court has set Oct 14 to hear prosecutors’ committal bid against Isham over his alleged statement linked to the 1MDB and SRC International cases of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Isham (above) may be sentenced to jail time or fined if found guilty over his alleged statement made during an interview titled “Townhall for Justice: Keadilan Sebenarnya Untuk Siapa”, broadcast on the Facebook page “The Malaya Post” on Sept 30, 2023.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P Kunyalam this morning informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court about the AG’s rejection of Isham’s letter of representation offering the apology.

“The representation has been rejected by the AG, we seek a full hearing.

“We have served the cause papers on the respondent,” the DPP told judge Noorin Badaruddin.

Accusations of biasedness

Noorin then fixed Oct 14 to hear the merits of the contempt proceedings against Isham, who is represented by lawyer Azhar Azizan Harun.

In the interview, Isham was alleged to have commented about the trial and appeal process of Najib’s 1MDB and SRC criminal cases.

He purportedly accused judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah of being biased in not withdrawing from hearing the 1MDB case against Najib, who is now imprisoned.

He also allegedly questioned the legitimacy of Najib’s final appeal for the SRC case at the Federal Court.

In the interview, Isham allegedly alluded that the apex panel of five judges, led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, had judged the appeal unfairly.

He was also accused of stating in the interview that the trial judge for the SRC case, Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, acted in a biased manner when hearing the case.

Our priority is 1MDB asset repatriation - Saifuddin

Court already ruled luxury items not from unlawful proceeds: Rosmah

M'sia's hunt for Jho Low unaffected by DOJ settlement - Johari

Good behaviour bond laid on Umno leader in 1MDB-linked case

US signs settlement with Jho Low proxies on asset forfeiture: Report

US DOJ strikes deal for Jho Low to forfeit over US$100m in assets